The Australian Government has selected a provider for the Bundaberg Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) after an expression of interest process.

The facility will be located at the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre on Barolin Street in Walkervale, Queensland.

It aims to provide urgent medical treatment to people in Queensland, relieving pressure on the nearby Bundaberg Hospital.

The Medicare UCC will operate seven days a week with extended hours and offer bulk-billed walk-in care.

It is intended to address the issue of non-urgent or semi-urgent cases comprising over 41% of Bundaberg Hospital presentations. The clinic will be open to patients, beginning late November.

A total of 11 Medicare UCCs are being established across Queensland, including in Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Northern Brisbane, Murrumba Downs, Rockhampton, Southern Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Townsville.

To complete this initiative, the government is collaborating with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government, with all clinics set to launch in 2023.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “All around Bundaberg and the surrounding areas when Queenslanders need urgent care that isn’t life-threatening – the Bundaberg Medicare UCC in Walkerville will be here to help.

“Prior to the election last year, we committed to rolling out 50 new Urgent Care Clinics across the country.

“When we complete our rollout – we'll have exceeded our target and there'll be 58 centres giving Australians urgent care, taking pressure off emergency departments all over the country.”

Minister Fentiman said: “We know that our state is experiencing exponential growth, and it’s great to see the Albanese Government providing free healthcare options for Queenslanders.
 
“Urgent Care Clinics are designed to take pressures off our health system and GPs by being an accessible and community-based alternative to busy hospitals.”